Chocolate Almond Macaroons

12 oz (2 cups) Nestle Toll House Little Bits semi-sweet chocolate

2 egg whites

8 oz almond paste

1/3 cup sifted confectioner's sugar

2 tbsp all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Melt over hot (NOT boiling) water, 1 cup chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Set aside. In large bowl, combine egg whites, almond paste, confectioner's sugar, and flour; beat until smooth. Blend in melted chocolate. Spoon macaroon mixture into pastry bag fitted with rosette tip. Pipe 1 3/4 inch rosettes onto foil lined cookie sheets. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks.

Topping: 1cup Nestle Toll House Little Bits semi-sweet chocolate (reserved from 12 ounce package used for cookies),

1 tbsp vegetable shortening, 1/4 cup chopped blanched almonds.  Combine over hot (NOT boiling) water, 3/4 cup chips and vegetable shortening; stir until morsels are melted and mixture is smooth. Drizzle each macaroon with 1/2 teaspoonful of chocolate. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips and chopped almonds.